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Rabbi Jeff Sultar, 47, once spent more than two years riding his bicycle 16,000 miles around the United States. Having spent all that time touring 46 states, you might now say that he's doing something similar -- touring the various Jewish communities around Philadelphia. Sultar recently joined Congregation Tiferes B'nai Israel in Warrington, his third pulpit in three counties of...

The second time has proven to be a charm. Having spent 15 years leading Tiferet Bet Israel in Blue Bell, David Ackerman, 48, left that shul in 2007 for a post at his alma mater, the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York. But the school's budget crisis meant some trimming, and he recently began leading Congregation Beth Am Israel in...

Perhaps no one is more surprised to find Peter Rigler at a different synagogue than Rigler himself. Until recently, he was the associate rabbi at Reform Congregation Keneseth Israel in Elkins Park, but he's now settling into the head post at Temple Sholom in Broomall. "I loved my time at K.I. and had wonderful relationships, and in many ways I...

For Sarah Newmark , being a rabbi "wasn't in the life plan." But as she became more involved with her local Jewish community -- working with the Sisterhood, serving as synagogue president and being active within the Federation system -- "somehow, my avocation and professional work started shifting," she said. Newmark, who's entering her final year at Wyncote's Reconstructionist Rabbinical...

So what are nice Jewish girls doing in a group like Nice Jewish Girls? They're expanding their knowledge of Judaism, for one thing. And they're meeting other Jewish women from the area like themselves -- single, over 50 and lesbian. Brenda Goodis, who founded Philadelphia's NJG in November 2007, describes the organization as a lesbian chavurah. There are monthly potlucks,...